Jesse Winker’s season with Mets all but over after injury setback

DETROIT — Jesse Winker’s season likely won’t have another act.

The Mets outfielder, who last week began a minor league rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie, has been shut down from baseball activities because of lower back discomfort, according to manager Carlos Mendoza, and is unlikely to return this year.

Winker, 32, re-signed with the Mets last offseason on a one-year contract worth $7.5 million. In 81 plate appearances over 26 games he produced a .229/.309/.400 slash line with one homer and 10 RBIs.

Winker was placed on the injured list on May 6 with an oblique strain. He returned July 8 and had just three plate appearances before he was placed on the IL with back discomfort.

His latest rehab assignment consisted of two games.

“We missed that bat,” Mendoza said when asked about Winker’s absence. “Guys will continue to step up and get opportunities. At this point it sucks for Wink, but he’s got to get [his back] right. We have got to keep going here.”